Jan Brueghel Leads A Galileo One Two In Epic St Leger

[Wandering Eyes]

In an outstanding renewal of Doncaster's G1 St Leger on Saturday, it was the much-missed colossus Galileo (Ire) who had his inimitable stamp on proceedings with his sons Jan Brueghel (Ire) and Illinois (Ire) waging war in a clear demonstration of one of the most common characteristics of his breed. While the eventual winner Jan Brueghel had yet to go into the red zone in a career that only commenced in May, the son of Devoted To You (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who had already provided a Classic winner in Sovereign (Ire) was able to draw on the innate steel handed down by his sire supreme and outlast his battle-hardened stablemate in a thrilling finale on Town Moor.

Free initially for Sean Levey with the pace set by the other Galileo in the works Grosvenor Square (Ire) not as exacting as was expected, the 11-4 joint-favourite was restrained to sit three lengths off the lead and soon settled into a more suitable rhythm for this extended 14-furlong stamina test. Delivered alongside the other marker-leader Illinois as they came to have it between them approaching the two-furlong pole, the G3 International Stakes and G3 Gordon Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star took until the last 100 yards to truly assert his superiority and prevail by a neck.

There was another 1 1/2 lengths and a nose back to Deira Mile (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in third and fourth, but the stewards saw fit to reverse those placings and provide the latter with a second Classic placing. Levey, the former Ballydoyle apprentice who was winning a second British Classic, was impressed by the Westerberg colour-bearer who was providing Galileo with his 101st group 1 winner. “It was very straightforward,” he said after helping Aidan O'Brien to an eighth St Leger. “He was willing, but still babyish and did it well with a bit in reserve. He's a nice horse going forward and could be anything.”

“He was quite keen initially, but I got him settled and then he was completely off the bridle and started to race lazily,” he explained. “Ryan said when he gets to the front he might think he's done enough, as he's a baby and when he started to get into a competitive position, I always felt I was going to go by Illinois. I had great times at Ballydoyle and it's nice to come around full circle–nice to get the ride and nice to deliver.”

Colossal performance! Jan Brueghel battles to glory in the @Betfred St Leger Stakes!

An eighth winner of the race for Aidan O'Brien… pic.twitter.com/RWm3Eyv1ZB

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 14, 2024

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
BETFRED ST LEGER STAKES-G1, £743,000, Doncaster, 9-14, 3yo, 14f 115yT, 3:04.52, gd.
1–JAN BRUEGHEL (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Devoted To You (Ire) (MGSP-Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Alleged Devotion, by Alleged
3rd Dam: Morning Devotion, by Affirmed
TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Sean Levey. £421,355. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 4-4-0-0, $760,875. *Full to Sovereign (Ire), G1SW-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $1,173,919; and Dawn Rising (Ire), G1SP-Ire, GSP-Eng, $277,824. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Illinois (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £159,745.
3–Sunway (Fr), 129, c, 3, Galiway (GB)–Kensea (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€300,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Guy Pariente Holding & Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Guy Pariente Holding SPRL (FR); T-David Menuisier. £39,825.
Margins: (NK, 1HF, NO). Odds: 2.75, 2.75, 5.50.
Also Ran: Deira Mile (Ire), Grosvenor Square (Ire), Wild Waves (Ire), You Got To Me (GB).

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